Rider propelled aquatic device for bathers



Feb. 20, 1951 R. E. JONES RIDER PROPELLED AQUATIC DEVICE FOR BATHERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 14, 1947 Feb. 20, 1951 R. E. JONES RIDER PROPELLED AQUATIC DEVICE FOR BATHERS Filed Nov. 14, 947

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inuanim'; EEIH E- Jones Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES ear-em OFFICE RIDER PROBELLED AQUATIC DEVICE FOR BATHERS Roy E J ones, Batesville, Miss. Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 786,112

This invention relates to an aquatic device adapted to be ridden and propelled by a bather and more particularly pertains to a relatively light vessel including a buoyant body on which a bather is adapted to ride and having means for propelling-the device by operation of the feet and means for steering the device with the hands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rider-propelled vessel having a rudder and propeller swingable with respect to the hull to enable the device to be readily steered even at very slow speed and which parts are located remote to the manually actuated means for accomplishing the steering.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vessel having a: water tight hull defining an air chamber and supported on a tubular frame forming a housing forthe power transmitting and steering connections of the device.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide a device or vessel of' the aforedescribed character which will be extremely safe in use, which is durable yet light in weight and by means of which a bather riding thereon may readily propel the vessel at considerable speed through'the water. t 7

Still aiurther object of the invention is to provide a device which will afford considerable amusement and exercise in the water and which could otherwise not be accomplished by nonswimmers.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the rider propelled aquatic device shown in operative position;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the frame thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, partly in side elevation and on a Vertical plane taken through the forward portion ofthe frame;

Figure 4 is a similar view taken through the rear portion of the frame;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

QFigur'e 7: isahorizontal sectional view taken 3 Claims.

substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 17 of Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional View through a portion of the hull of the device.

Referringmorespecifically to the drawings, the novel rider propelled aquatic device compristing the invention is designated generally Ill and includes a water tight hull I I which is preferably formed of aluminum but which may be formed of other light weight, water proof material. The hull H is secured around a frame designated generally E2 of tubular construction and which includes an upper longitudinal tube [3, a lower tube M which converges upwardlyzand forwardly with respect to the tube l -3 and which is joined thereto or formed integral therewith at the forward ends thereof by an enlarged socket portion I5. The rear, vertically spaced ends of the-tubes l3 and I4 merge with and open into a perpendicular housing portion [6. The frame i2 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced ribs ll which are secured to the tubular frame portions I 3 and M and by means of which the hull II is held in an extended position and provided with a substantially flat relatively wide intermediate top portion which tapers toward both ends of said hull andover which is secured a pad of a suitable cushioning material such as sponge rubber, as indicated at [8 and best seen in-Figurev 8. As best illustrated in Figure 4, the perpendicular housing I6 is provided with a closed bottom and is in communication with the frame portion' l4 adjacent thereto. The housing lli'is open at its top and contains an inner tubular member IS, the lower end of which terminates adjacentsaid open top and which is provided with a flanged open upper end 29 which extends to substantially above the top of the housing Hi. The tubular member I 9 is secured'to the upper end of the housing IS by soldering or welding, as indicated at 21 and the rear ends of the tubular frame portions [3 and Hi may likewise be secured to the housing it by soldering or welding, also as indicated at 2 I. The housing 16 adjacent its bottom provided with a rearwardly extending flanged opening 22 which is elongated in a direction circumferentially thereof and the ends of which diverge outwardly with respect to one another, as best illustrated in Figure 6. The bottom portion of the housing It contains a tubular liner or sleeve 23 which is closed at its bottom and the bottom portion of which rests onrthe bottom of said housing H5. The liner 23 is open at its top and terminates below the level of the tubular member t9. The liner ,23 is provided adjacent its bottom with a radially projecting bearing 24 which extends rearwardly and outwardly through the flanged opening 22 and which is swingably disposed therein. The liner 23 makes a sufficiently close engagement with the bottom portion of the housing l6 to combine therewith to seal the opening 22 against entrance of water into said housing. A propeller shaft 25 extends through and is journalled in the bearing 24 and said bearing is provided with inwardly opening grooves containing packing 26 to provide a water tight seal between the bearing 24 and shaft 25. A propeller 21 is secured to the rear end of the shaft 25 and rearwardly of the bearing 24 by a shear pin 28 and a rudder 29 which is fixedly secured to the rear end of the bearing 24, outwardly of the flanged opening 22, is provided with an opening 30 in which the propeller 21 is disposed for rotation and which forms a protecting frame therearound to protect the propeller from obstructionsv A beveled gear 3| is keyed to the inner end of the propeller shaft 25 and is disposed within the liner 23 and meshes with a beveled gear 32 which is keyed to the lower end of a drive shaft 33 which extends longitudinally through the housing l6 and is journaled in spaced antifriction bearings 34, one of which is secured in the liner 23 and the other of which is secured in said tubular member l9. A beveled gear 35 is keyed to the upper end of the shaft 33 and is disposed adjacent the open upper end of said tubular member IQ for meshing engagement with a beveled gear 36 which is keyed to a shaft 31. The shaft 37 extends diametrically through a cover member 38 having an open, externally flanged bottom 39 which seats on and is detachably secured to the flange top 20 of the tubular member I9 by fastenings 40. A gasket or other water tight seal 4| is disposed between the flanged portions 26 and 39 and it will be readily apparent that the cover 38 functions to completely close the housing It, when in an applied position. As best seen in Figure 2, the shaft 3! is provided with cranks 42 at the ends thereof on each of which is journaled a pedal 43 equipped with a foot retaining strap or stirrup 44 and it will be readily obvious that when the shaft 37 is revolved the shafts 33 and 25 will be driven thereby through the beveled gears, previously described, for revolving the propeller 21 the blades of which are pitched so that when the shaft 3'. is revolved counterclockwise, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, said propeller 21 will be revolved in a direction for propelling the vessel 10 forwardly or from right to left of Figure 1.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, socket I5 is provided with an externally threaded open top normally closed by a threaded cap 45 having a centrally disposed boss 46, equipped with a water seal and through which a steering post 41 extends. The steering post 41 is rotatably disposed in the boss 45 and is journaled in an antifriction bearing 48 contained in said socket IS. The post 4'! is provided at its upper end and above the cap 45 with a sleeve portion 49 which is disposed transversely thereof and in which the intermediate portion of a handle bar 50 is suitably secured. A beveled gear 51 is keyed to the lower end of the post 47 and meshes with a beveled gear 52 which is keyed to the forward end of a shaft 53 which extends longitudinally through tubular frame portion 14 and is journaled in bearings 54, contained therein. The opposite, rear end of the shaft 53, as seen in Fig re 4,! has a crown sear 55 keyed thereto and which is disposed at an angle to the housing It and has its upper portion extending into said housing so that the teeth thereof mesh with a ring of externally disposed, circumferentially spaced notches 56 formed in the liner 23 whereby when the handle bar 50 is swung to operate the steering post 41 the shaft 53 will be turned thereby causing the crown gear 55 to be turned in one direction or the other for oscillating the liner 23 within the housing 16 to cause the bearing 24, propeller 21 and rudder 29 to be swung relatively to said housing 16 for steering the vessel ID.

The frame [2 is preferably provided with shoulder engaging members 51 which are preferably secured to certain of the ribs l1 and extend upwardly therefrom through the top portion of the hull 'II and through the pad [8 to be engaged by the shoulders of the rider of the vessel Ill, as illustrated in Figure 1.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that a bather, as indicated in Figure 1, may lie prone on the stomach on the pad [8 with the shoulders engaging against the shoulder rests 51 and with the hands grasping the ends of the handle bar 56. The legs straddle the rear end of the hull II when the feet engage the pedals 43 and are held thereon by the stirrups 44. The hull I I will float buoyantly on the water but with the rear lower portion thereof submerged so that the propeller 2i and rudder 29 will be under water. By rotating the crank shaft 31 counterclockwise, as previously described, the propeller 2'! will be revolved for propelling the vessel l0 forwardly or from right to left and said vessel can be readily steered by turning the handle bar 50 toward the direction that it is desired to turn the vessel and so that the liner 23 and the propeller 21 and rudder 29, carried thereby will be swung relatively to the housing It for readily causing the vessel [0 to execute turning movements even at very slow speed.

Obviously, the aquatic device H! may be made in various sizes for accommodating adults and children and the shoulder rests 1 may be spaced at various distances from the crank shaft 3i, and, if desired, said shoulder rests could be adjustably secured for longitudinal displacement relatively to the hull H.

Various other modifications and changes are likewise contemplated which may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rider propelled aquatic device comprising a buoyant hollow hull having a top, occupant supporting surface, a tubular frame substantially enclosed by said hull, a propeller journaled in a portion of the frame and disposed rearwardly of the hull, pedal and crank means journaled transversely of the frame and above the rear end of the hull and adapted to be engaged and actuated by the feet of the occupant, driving means journaled in said frame and forming a driving connection between the propeller and pedal and crank means, means for swingably mounting the propeller relatively to the rear end of said hull and to the pedal and crank means, and manually actuated steering means disposed adjacent and above the forward end of the hull and connected to said last mentioned means and adapted to be actuated by the occupant for steering the device.

2. An aquatic device as in claim 1, said steering means comprising a handle bar disposed above the forward end of the hull, a steering post secured thereto and journaled in said frame, a steering shaft journaled in the frame and connected to the steering post for rotation thereby, said means for swingably mounting the propeller comprising a vertically journaled swivelly mounted upright liner member disposed in the rear hull portion and by which said propeller is rotatably supported, and means connecting said steering shaft to said liner for oscillating the liner in the frame when the handle bar is swung relatively to the hull.

3. An aquatic device as in claim 1, said steering means comprising a handle bar disposed above the forward end of the hull, a steering post secured thereto and journaled in said frame, a steering shaft journaled in the frame and connected to the steering post for rotation thereby, said means for swingably mounting the propeller comprising a vertically journaled swivelly mounted upright liner member disposed in the rear hull portion and by which said propeller is rotatably supported, and means connecting said steering shaft to said liner for oscillating the liner in the frame when the handle bar is swung relatively to the hull, said liner including a propeller shaft bearingprojecting rearwardly from the frame and swingably disposed with respect to the frame, and a rudder secured to said bearing and disposed in substantially a vertical plane for swinging movement relatively to the hull in response to the swinging movement of the handle bar and in unison with the propeller.

ROY E. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,152,238 Mallory June 23, 1874 1,159,945 Jacobs Nov. 9, 1915 1,277,022 Young Aug. 27, 1918 1,512,902 Boyd Dec. 28, 1924 2,434,032 Bates Jan. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 612,979 France Aug. 10. 1926 

